Depositions from Harriet Cook, L. Perkins, and Melinda Townsend to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; January 13, 1870

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Depositions from Harriet Cook, L. Perkins, and Melinda Townsend to Mississippi Governor Adelbert Ames; January 13, 1870

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People

Ames, Adelbert, 1835-1933 Cook, Harriet Gifford, E.Johnston, C. C.Lincoln, C. P.Perkins, Levinia Price, Unknown Price, William Townsend, Melinda Unknown, June

Events

Crime Crime--Fornication Intoxicated

Organizations and Businesses

Hospitals Hotels

Occupations

Judges Justices of the peace Mayors

Places

Grenada (Miss.)Military training camps--Camp Grenada (Miss.)Yalobusha County (Miss.)

Social Identifiers

African Americans

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[note] Ames—Jan. 13, 1870 [/note]

[seal]

State of Mississippi
Yalobusha County

This day personally appeared before the undersigned Mayor of the Town of Grenada and Ex Officio Justice of the Peace in & for the said county & state Harriett Cook—Colored—who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that on a Sunday during the time Judge Gifford Boarded at Mr Price's I saw said Gifford Coming to the House when he Grasped at the Garden Fence & nearly fell to the ground. When he came to the Gate leading to the House he nearly fell again and after much difficulty he succeeded in getting in to the House and laid down on the Bed. This was about one oclk P M I did not see him leave his room again until late in the evening I am confident he was Drunk. When I first saw him nearly falling I did not know the cause but when he came nearer to me & nearly falling the 2^nd time I then became satisfied Drunkenness was the cause

~~Witness~~ [gap] Harriet ^Her X mark^ Cook

Witnesses. [gap] C. C. Johnston
C. P. Lincoln

Levinia Perkins Being duly sworn Deposeth and saith I lived in the same House with Melinda Townsend, but in a diffrent room the opening however in the plank dividing the two Rooms were so large that I could see plainly into Melinda's Room A woman named June told me that the old man Boarding at Mr Price's was in the habit of

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visiting Melinda's House at night and told me to watch and I would see him that same night about nine O'Clock I saw Mr Gifford coming by the Hospital towards Melindas House I knew it was about 9 oclk because the Band was playing at the Camp at the time I had seen Melinda & Mr Gifford conversing together twice near her House earlier in the night but the last time about 9 o'clk he walked into her House and immediately lighted a Candle she fixed her Bed & Pillows & I saw Mr Gifford take of his Boots & Clothes and they went to bed together Jane who was living with me at the time was present & saw the same that I did. In a day or two afterward I told her (Melinda) all I had seen that night she did not deny but boasted that she had such a man & he would pay her something

~~Witness~~ [gap] Levinia ^Her X Mark^ Perkins

Witnesses [gap] C. H. Johnston
C. P. Lincoln

Melinda Townsend Being duly sworn Deposeth & saith that one day when I was attending to my washing at Mr Price's Mr Gifford asked me if I was living alone I told him I was He said he wanted to have a woman to visit I said you have a wife He said no I am alone Soon after he came to my House at night and made proposals to lie with me He came at least three times on the same business each time in the night and no ^one^ was in the Room with me at these times but himself

~~Witness~~ [gap] Melinda ^X Her mark^ Townsend

Witnesses. [gap] C H Johnston
C. P. Lincoln

Sworn and Subscribed to before me this 13^th Day of January 1870

William Price Mayor and Ex Officio Justice-of the-Peace.